Los Angeles police were ready to arrest Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock during the Academy Awards.
However, the comedian stopped them and said that he didn’t want to press charges, Oscars producer Will Packer claims.
In a video for his Good Morning America interview, Packer claims LA cops told Rock that they would take Smith out and arrest him for battery.
“We will go get him, we are prepared to get him right now,” police officers told Rock, Packer recalled. “You can press charges. We can arrest him.”
The Oscars producer also claimed that the comedian was dismissive towards cops but he encouraged the host to hear them out before he makes a decision.
“They were laying out the options, and as they were talking, Chris was being very dismissive of those options. He was like, ‘No, I’m fine.’ He was like, ‘No, no, no.’”
Rock declined to press charges but police said in a statement that “if the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”
But Smith will face ‘disciplinary proceedings’ with Oscars officials that can result in expulsion, suspension, or other sanctions.
The Academy said in a statement on Tuesday: “Consistent with the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response.”
Peaking to The Sun, a source close to Smith confirmed that the actor is writing to the Academy to plead his case.
“Things are hanging in the balance. He will write an official letter to apologize, and effectively beg for their forgiveness,” the source said.
“He is also expected to hold a call with show bosses in the next 24 hours. April 18 is D-Day, though — he will find out if he still has an Oscar, and quite possibly, a career.”
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